Soldiers head towards the state broadcaster RTNC (building in distance) during the clashes.

AFP

More than 70 rebels and three soldiers have been killed in clashes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, after supporters of a self-proclaimed prophet tried to seize control of government buildings in the capital.

The government said Congolese troops killed dozens of armed youths who attacked the airport, a military barracks and state television headquarters in the capital Kinshasa on Monday.

The attackers were supporters of Paul Joseph Mukungubila, a Christian religious leader who ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 2006.

Who is Paul Joseph Mukungubila?

Was an obscure figure until Monday's attacks

Self-proclaimed prophet

Head of 'The ministry of restoration from black Africa'

Also goes by the names 'Gideon' and 'the prophet of the eternal'

Said to have been born in 1947 - his website lists a complex biblical-style genealogy

Ran for president in the 2006 Congolese elections

Has been critical of President Kabila's peace deal with Tutsi-led M23 rebel group

Before transmission was shut down at the state television station, the attackers took to the air to shout slogans in favour of Mr Mukungubila and against president Joseph Kabila.

"Gideon Mukungubila has come to free you from the slavery of the Rwandan," said the message, according to a Reuters reporter who saw a tape of the transmission.

Opponents of Mr Kabila, who was educated in Tanzania and Uganda, accuse him of being a Rwandan in an attempt to tarnish his reputation.

The state broadcaster reported that security forces had killed 46 of the attackers, while government officials said about 20 more had been arrested.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende said: "It (the toll) has increased. More than 70 attackers were killed, including around 50 in Kinshasa".

Gunmen briefly seized the headquarters of state radio and television in just before 8.00am local time, taking several journalists hostage.

Witnesses also reported shooting at the Tshatshi Military Camp, close to the defence ministry, and at the international airport.

Some flights were diverted to Brazzaville, the capital of Congo Republic, on the other side of the Congo river.

Shortly after the clashes, soldiers in the eastern mining province of Katanga attacked a church run by Mr Mukungubila, who has railed against Mr Kabila's decision to make peace with Tutsi rebels in eastern Congo, saying the president was under the influence of Rwanda.

Witnesses said the fighting in the regional capital Lubumbashi quickly subsided. Security forces found arms and ammunition in the church, according to sources.

"We have total control of the situation," said Mr Mende.

Government officials said the assault in Kinshasa was carried out by untrained youths in civilian clothes with aged military equipment and appeared to be more a political statement than an attempt to seize power in the riverside city of more than 9 million people.

Some analysts in Kinshasa said the attacks could be linked to Mr Kabila's recent decision to replace national police chief John Numbi, a powerful political figure from Katanga, with Charles Bisengimana, an ethnic Tutsi.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is struggling to emerge from decades of violence and instability in which millions of people have died, mostly from hunger and disease.

A 21,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping mission is stationed in the country.